Women’s Rugby Super Series July 5th Squads

The Women’s Super Series is being held in Salt Lake City and includes matches between Canada, England, France and the United States on July 1, 5 and 9, 2016. Rugby Utah, the state’s USA Rugby-sanctioned governing body for the sport, has partnered with USA Rugby and Utah Sports Commission to support the World Rugby-sanctioned Women’s Rugby Super Series as it comes to Utah.

In addition to the Super Series, the USA Junior All-Americans will play the Canada’s Maple Leafs on the July 5th and 9th. A women’s age-grade Stars and Stripes Camp was held alongside the Series and served as a selection vehicle to the USA Junior All-Americans.

On July 1st, Canada won 52-17 against England and the Eagles lost 19-13 against France.

The July 5th matches will feature begin with the USA Rugby AIG Collegiate All-Americans against Canada’s developmental Maple Leafs at 1pm MT. At 3pm, England then plays France and the final match of the day will pit the USA Women’s Eagles against Canada at 5pm MT. All matches throughout the Super Series are broadcast live on The Rugby Channel.

July 5th Squads

USA Women’s Eagles

Once again Stacey Bridges will captain the Women’s Eagles Tuesday, July 5th. The U.S. Women’s Eagles faced the Six Nations Champion France at Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 1st losing 19-13. It was the first match of the year for the Eagles, while France had already played five matches.

Women’s Eagles Head Coach Pete Steinberg has made seven changes in the starting XV against Canada. The Eagles will be a young side, but with experienced players to compliment the side. The front row, for example, is the same tight five that faced Canada last year which won.

Pete Steinberg knows that the rivalry between the United States and Canada can impact team performance. He indicated that “I don’t think we’re the underdog going in against Canada; last time we played them we beat them. But I don’t think we go in as favorites, either. I think it’s going to be a well-contested match just as it was last year. “

Steinberg added “Choices in selection have been based around our desire to rotate because we feel we have depth in the squad, as well as the opportunity for us to be able to see more players. It’s always hard for us to balance wanting to win the tournament – and we still have a chance to win the tournament – but at the same time we’re not at the point where we can just focus on the players that we think are going to the World Cup; we still have to find out who they are. Some of these younger players need to be given the opportunity. Everyone’s playing for a chance to start against England.”

Interim Head Coach Shaun Allen has made one change to Canada’s Senior Women’s starting XV for Tuesday’s Women’s Rugby Super Series game against the USA.

Katie McNally is rewarded for her try against England with a start on the wing in place of Frédérique Rajotte who moves to the bench.

Allen commented on the 52-17 win against England in saying that “We did a very good job on attack against England. The understanding and commitment shown by the squad was exactly what we were looking for in our first fixture. Against the USA we are looking for the players to perform their specific roles and to improve on the refinements that we have worked on in training and our review.”

The Women’s Rugby Super Series has teams playing three matches in eight days. Allen said “We have had a limited time to practice between games. The priority has been on recovery and making sure that all the players are able to play at as close to 100 percent as possible. In our training we were looking at small improvements in some key areas that the coaches and players identified through video.”

Lead coach Scott Bemand has made seven changes to the starting XV from their July 1st loss to Canada 52-17.

Lauren Cattell comes in at outside centre while Fiona Pocock, Laura Keates, Alex Matthews and Poppy Leitch earn a call up to the starting XV. The other two changes had Harriet Millar-Mills moving from flanker to lock, while Katie Mason moved from fullback to wing.

Should Zoe Aldcroft and Sarah Bern enter the match, they would gain their first cap.

Bemand said “We have regrouped since the Canada game and are ready to face France, a side we know well. We were disappointed by our performance last time as we didn’t adapt well enough on the day. We have looked at what we need to improve, as well as the things we did well, and we want to make amends for the Six Nations result in March.”

France has made eleven changes to their starting XV from their 19-13 win over the USA.

Six of these changes are in the forwards with the entire front row changing. Dhia Maylis Traore and Patricia Carricaburu are props, while Manon Bigot is at hooker. Audrey Forlani is at lock, while backrow changes include, Virginia Griere at flanker and Safi N’Diaye at eight. N’Diaye will also captain the side.

The Backs changes have Laure Sansus playing scrumhalf and connecting with Camille Imart at flyhalf. Camille Boudaud and Elodie Poublan are centres and Caroline Boujar is at wing.

USA Rugby AIG Women’s Collegiate All-Americans Head Coach Sue Whitwell has selected 26 athletes from the Junior and Collegiate Stars and Stripes Camp for a two-match series with Rugby Canada’s Maple Leafs on July 5 and 9.

Canada’s Maple Leafs two-game series against the USA Collegiate All-Americans will be captained by Lori Josephson. The team features a mix of players with test experience, as well as, some of Canada’s rising young stars.

Canada’s Senior Interim Head Coach Shaun Allen said “The Maple Leafs Series against the USA Collegiate All-Americans is very important to both the short term and long term success of the Women’s Senior program. It is fantastic to have the opportunity to have the senior and Maple Leaf groups in the same location at the same time and to share coaching and management resources.”

“The USA CAA will be a strong side and will give the players representing the Maple Leafs a great opportunity to show what they are capable of under international pressure.”